Kauai: A Hawaii Family Adventure

For my Mom's big birthday we all headed out to Hawaii!  It was a wonderful family adventure.  We started out going to Waimea canyon, the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii.

We had a good time at the canyon and then ate at the Shrimp Shack on the way home. It was March 17th and the residents at the resort decorated their golf carts for a St. Patrick's day parade.  The parade ended with all of us enjoying sunset at the beach.

Liam was a very good boy the whole trip, smiling a lot at everyone and enjoying himself. He turned three months old during the trip.

Elsa was very excited by a "floaty" that she played with on the greenbelt behind our house.  She would throw it up in the air and then run after it.  It was endless fun.

Elsa also got to use the floaty in the pool with her Auntie Amanda and Uncle Carter one day, while Mom and Dad enjoyed a day at the spa.

 

We enjoyed a train adventure around an old plantation that included feeding wild pigs, while others visited waterfalls and hiked the beautiful Na Pali coast.

 

 Elsa also really liked the beach.  She built sand castles and ponds, and then would sit in her pond. Mom took this fabulous picture of Elsa:

 Both kids got to enjoy the ocean at Poipu Beach.

 It was a lot of fun to have a happy Elsa at the beach.

This was a wonderful trip with Mom and Amanda.  We were last in Hawaii together in 2002 on the Big Island.

 The flight home was perfect with both kids sleeping most of the way.

 Hooray for Hawaii 2013!

Elsa Adventures

Elsa is so much fun and having so much fun.  She and I went on our first mother-daughter date outing to see a live play of Dora the Explorer, one of her favorite shows. We dressed up in our green dresses and pearls.

 

It was a double date with her friend and our neighbor Victoria and her mom.

 Elsa is still loving DCC (her preschool) and I love all their outings, like this one to the park.

Elsa got a scooter.  She loves it. I love it when she asks for some scooting time and then goes to the courtyard to scoot around.

Last night Elsa and Daddy did singing time.  She commanded him to stand-up, but he thought on his knees was better. Elsa was wearing one of Liam's outfits (with her skirt)!

No entry would be complete without a picture of the baby brother.  We had fun dressing him up as a pea in a pea pod! 

February Fun with Liam and Elsa

Liam is two months old today!  He continues to get bigger and bigger and is now almost 12 pounds. Time is going by so quickly and he is getting big so fast.

5 weeks

6 weeks

7 weeks

8 weeks

At two and a half, Elsa is really coming into her own.  She creates wonderful worlds for herself, like this "rascal picnic" with all of her stuffed animals.

Elsa wanted to see Goats and Snakes, so we went to the Little Farm in Berkeley.  

She loves to explore with her Daddy.
 

Elsa is now wearing "underwears."  No more diapers for her during the day and so far this week no accidents at school either!

Baby Elsa and Baby Liam look a lot alike, but so do Baby Karna and Baby Arne!  Check us all out:

Tahoe Weekend

Super Bowl weekend we headed up to Tahoe for a Snow Weekend.  Traffic was light and two sleeping kids made for an easy drive. Elsa was tired from her Saturday morning routine of swim lesson and kinder gym. 

It was a beautiful weekend in the mountains. 

Liam was not the greatest sleeper that night, but Elsa slept well.

In the morning we headed out to the hill for sledding and enjoying the snow. 

 

 

Arne and Elsa had a wonderful time sledding.

On the way back down the mountain we stopped in Auburn and visited with Arne's Aunt Shelley and Great Aunt Jean. 

One Month of Liam

Liam had his one month checkup today!  He is now 23 inches long and 9 pounds, 11 ounces (just past Elsa's birth weight).

Elsa is still interested in her little brother and she is a great helper.

Elsa hanging out with Liam.

He moves a bit, kicking his legs like his sister did.


This month was filled with some adventures, like the tide pools, Liam's first photo shoot, and visits with friends, including Uncle Matt.

Elsa & Daddy at the Tide Pools.

Elsa and Daddy watching Liam's photo shoot.

Getting Liam all set for pictures.

Uncle Matt and Liam

We also gave Liam his first bath. 

Water is fun!

Getting dry is better.

Liam's First Bath/Elsa's First Bath

It is nice to watch Liam grow week by week.

Day 1

One Week

Two Weeks

Three Weeks

Four Weeks